KNOXVILLE-KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE April 25, 2013 MINUTES The regular scheduled meeting of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee was held at the L. T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 25, 2013. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Ms. Virginia Anagnost Rep. Joe Armstrong (Represented by Mr. Wesley Donaldson) Councilman Daniel Brown Commissioner Amy Broyles Mayor Tim Burchett (Represented by Mr. Chris Caldwell) Dr. Martha Buchanan (Represented by Mr. Dempsey Andes) Ms. Polly Doka Mr. Mark Donaldson (Represented by Mr. Buz Johnson) Mr. Jim DuBose Ms. Zoe Evans Rev. John Gill Ms. Christy McMillan Mr. Alvin Nance (Represented by Ms. Ashley Ogle) Ms. Martha Olson Ms. Judy Poulson Ms. Monica Reed Mayor Madeline Rogero (Represented by Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland) Judge John Rosson Dr. Sandra Twardosz Ms. Lula Williams Mr. Charles Wright COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT Ms. Debbie Black Ms. Mary Farmer Dr. James McIntyre Mr. Timothy McMahan Mr. Dennis Murphy 0
The meeting was opened with a moment of silence, Ms. Virginia Anagnost, board chair, presiding. I. MINUTES Ms. Anagnost asked if there were additions or corrections to the minutes of February 8, 2013. There being none, the minutes were approved as distributed. II. KNOXVILLE INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE (KICMA) RECOGNITION Mr. Albert Nelson introduced and welcomed three members of the Knoxville Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance (KICMA). Rev. John Butler, Rev. Barbara McKinney, and Rev. Anne Monzella attended the board meeting to present a check to CAC in the amount of $2,500 to be used for utility assistance. Ms. Anagnost presented a framed certificate of appreciation to the KICMA members and thanked them for their generous gift. III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Mr. Buz Johnson presented the Nominating Committee report. He noted that Mr. Charles Wright and Mr. Jim DuBose were members of the committee. He presented the following slate of officers: For Chair, Ms. Virginia Anagnost; Vice-Chair, Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland; and Secretary, Mr. Jim DuBose. Mr. Johnson asked if there were additional nominations. There were none. Mr. Wesley Donaldson made a motion to approve the election of officers. Councilman Dan Brown seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Anagnost thanked the board members for their support. She noted that under the CAC bylaws the chief financial officer of Knox County serves as the treasurer of CAC. This position is held by Mayor Tim Burchett and Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell is his designated representative. IV. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland presented the Administrative Committee Report for March 28, 2013. Mr. Pace Porter and Mr. Matt Neilson from PYA (Pershing Yoakley & Associates) met with the committee to review the audit report for the period ending June 30, 2012. Mr. Neilson went through the major sections of the report and answered questions from committee members. The auditor s report expresses an unqualified opinion of the CAC financial statements. CAC was determined to be a low-risk auditee. There were no material weaknesses identified with regard to internal controls over major programs. There was one finding. CAC was paid in excess of the amount allowable under the AmeriCorps grant. This amount ($14,004) has been returned to the granting agency. The committee approved the personnel actions on the attached report. The 1
committee reviewed a plan for Head Start proposed budget cuts and program changes due to reductions in program funds. The committee reviewed the Head Start/Early Head Start Self- Assessment Plan for 2012-2013. The committee was advised of revised safety policies that are under consideration. The committee received information about the Mobile Meals waiting list. The committee received information about up-coming meetings and events. Senior Service Directory Kickoff Event. Tuesday, April 23 at O Connor Center. 2pm 4pm. Board members are encouraged to attend. John J. Duncan Sr. Duncan Award for Senior Advocacy is Thursday, May 2 at O Connor Center. 4pm 6pm. Senior Employment Job Fair. Wednesday, May 22 at the LT Ross Building. 9am 12 noon. Mr. Thomas Tank Strickland made a motion to approve the Administrative Committee report for March 2013. Mr. Charles Wright seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Mr. Strickland presented the Administrative Committee Report for April 17, 2013. There were no personnel actions. The committee reviewed the Office on Aging Invested Funds. No action is required at this time. The committee reviewed the Head Start and Early Head Start program information reports and financial reports for the March 2013. The committee was advised that the audit report for the period ending June 30, 2012 has been submitted and received. The Charitable Solicitation Registration application prepared by Pershing Yoakley & Associates has been submitted and approved through December 2013. The committee reviewed the cash balance report through April 16, 2013. Although the amount posted shows a negative balance, additional information presented showed $717,087.02 received and waiting to be posted at the Knox County Finance Department. Additionally, $882,321.52 has been requested and is in various stages of the payment process at grantor agencies. Based on this additional information, there is no indication of a problem with the cash balance. The committee was informed that meetings have been held with city and county officials regarding the local budget requests. CAC board members are invited to attend Mayor Rogero s budget presentation on Friday, April 26 at noon at Ijams Park (Mead s Quarry). Transportation will leave from the Ross Building at 11:00 am. Please sign up if you plan to attend. The committee was updated on issues related to the utilization of federal funds for transit services in the newly expanded urbanized area which includes Knox County and portions of the surrounding area. The committee received a summary of the Transportation Title VI Program. The committee received the recommendations from the Council on Aging for the allocation of Older Americans Act funds. The committee was advised that the President s budget includes a 50% reduction in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). It will be up to supporters in Congress to make sure that funding for this essential community action funding remains intact. The committee recommends that staff be authorized to submit operational plans for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as close to the May 1 due date as possible. No funding information is currently available. Additional information will be provided at the May board meeting. The committee reviewed plans for the Summer Child Nutrition Program. The committee was informed of a monitoring report finding related to Workforce Connections. The report states that funds generated by charging fees for the Global Career Development Facilitator Training were not reported as program income. Staff does not agree that the funds in question are reportable as program income and has asked the Tennessee 2
Department of Labor to review the finding. The financial reports of the Homeless Services grants including Homeward Bound were reviewed. Mr. Strickland made a motion to approve the Administrative Committee report for April 2013. Mr. Buz Johnson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. IX. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) PRE-PLANNING Ms. Anagnost announced that we would take up agenda item IX regarding CSBG preplanning next in order to facilitate the schedule. Ms. Lori Galbraith presented the findings of the CAC client surveys and board surveys. Client surveys totaled 165 this year. At the individual and family level, the top five (5) needs are the same as reported in 2012. They are: 1. Can t pay utility bill; 2. Money for rent or house payment; 3. Health problem; 4. Finding a job; 5. Money for food. Clients also reported that predatory lending services such as title loans and tax preparation with high fees were concerns. Caring for an elderly family member was also reported as an increased need, up from 1% in 2012 to 13%. At the neighborhood and community level, affordable housing and health care rose in the rankings. Lack of recreational programs was also cited as a growing need. Ms. Galbraith added that the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) indicates that more people, particularly women, children, and seniors, are losing their homes or are at-risk of becoming homeless. With regard to the board surveys, the top three priority rankings were: 1. Helping people become more self-sufficient by getting and keeping a job; 2. Helping people become for selfsufficient through education by increasing literacy, getting a GED, obtaining job training or postsecondary education; 3. Helping low-income families move out of poverty by providing comprehensive case management services. Overall interests included: 1. Getting and keeping a job; 2. Helping elderly people to live independently in their homes and prevent the high cost of institutionalization. When asked what CAC should keep doing, the board responded that the agency should continue to recruit, train, and retain the hard-working, dedicated and compassionate front-line staff that CAC employs. Ms. Galbraith told the board that the Community Action Plan would be finalized and made available by May or June. V. HEAD START SEQUESTER PLAN Ms. Joyce Farmer reported on the Head Start Sequester Plan. On March 1 st, Head Start received a letter from the National Head Start office explaining the impact on the program caused by the recent federal sequestration. There will be a 5% reduction in the Head Start budget. Initially, this would occur from March 1, 2013 September 30, 2013, which is the federal budget year. Ms. Farmer said that the Head Start budget runs through December, so it was unclear how this would unfold. The deficit amount is approximately $415,000 $425,000. Ms. Farmer stressed the importance of maintaining the quality of the Head Start program. To make up for the reduced funding, Head Start will close the program two weeks early. Ms. Farmer reported that this summer, Head Start will focus on home-based programming because it is less expensive. There will be furlough days and rotating shifts for those who need to work. All of the staff will absorb some of the impact of the reduced funding. Due to the budget cuts, there will be a reduction of 70 children enrolled in the fall. This will reduce the enrollment level from 860 to 790 3
children. Councilman Brown asked how Head Start would choose which children would be cut from the program. Ms. Farmer responded that there are selection criteria based on need. This identifies the families and children who have the highest need score. Then classes and transportation routes are established. Mr. Jim DuBose asked if the President s proposal includes funding for expansion of preschool education. Ms. Farmer responded that the proposed budget does include additional funds for preschool education, with a 25% allocation going to private providers. Mr. DuBose asked if we would be applying for any other types of funding. Ms. Farmer said that Head Start will apply for any funding that is available. Dr. Sandra Twardosz made a motion to approve the Head Start Sequestration Plan. Rev. John Gill seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Farmer presented the annual Head Start Self-Assessment Plan. She stated that the plan had been approved by the Head Start Policy Council. Ms. Anagnost indicated that the Administrative Committee had reviewed the Head Start Self Assessment Plan at their March meeting and that approval by the full board was recommended. Mr. Charles Wright made a motion to approve the Head Start Self-Assessment Plan. Mr. Jim DuBose seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. VI. STATUS OF FEDERAL FUNDING Ms. Barbara Kelly told the board that we will have to submit plans for the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These will be submitted by May 1, 2013, without budgets because we have not been given the allocation amounts. Ms. Kelly added that CSBG continues to have strong bipartisan support in Congress. It is unlikely that CSBG will be cut 50% which is the President s budget proposal. We will have to deal with, at least, the 5% sequestration cut. We have had layoffs in the Housing and Energy Services unit and will probably have other reductions as the reduced funding levels are implemented in other programs. Mr. Vaughn Smith reported that Workforce Connections is also feeling the effects of the sequestration. The contracts that come to the department from July June are in two parts. July through September is in the current fiscal year. October through June is the next year and is a two-year contract. The 5% cut will affect funding from July through September. The allocations are down, along with the sequestration problems, resulting in the need for measures to be taken to make up the difference. With few exceptions, the program has not accepted new enrollees in the last six months. Three staff members at the Career Center and one Youth Program employee have left and will not be replaced until adequate funding is secured. There will be reductions in the Dislocated Worker, Adult, and Youth programs. The Dislocated Worker program will be most affected, with an 8% reduction, beginning July 1. There will be a 2-3% reduction for the Adult and Youth programs. When allocations are received in October, program enrollment will be reopened. Mr. Smith reported that the Employment Security Division of the Tennessee Department of Labor (TNDOL) is issuing a statewide reduction in force, resulting in the layoffs of 74 employees. The TNDOL is closing 14 Career Centers, which includes 5 centers located in rural areas that lie south and west of Knoxville. As an alternative to Career Centers, Career Coaches 4
(buses equipped with internet service and technology for job seekers) will travel to rural areas and offer employment services. Mr. Smith noted that there is a new job service platform called Jobs4TN.com, which has been put in place to replace physical offices. He noted that people without internet access cannot benefit from this platform. As a result of the state audit, it was found that the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was overspent by $78 million. The TNDOL commissioner and deputy commissioner have since been replaced. VII. OLDER AMERICANS ACT ALLOCATIONS Ms. Zoe Evans presented the Council on Aging recommendations for the allocation of Older Americans Act funds. Funding remains unchanged for FY 2013-2014 at $252,195. In January 2013, the Council on Aging executive committee sent out Requests for Proposals to various agencies. After application reviews, the committee made site visits and invited each agency to make a presentation to the committee. Ms. Evans reported that this year s recommendations are the same as last year. Ms. Zoe Evans made a motion to approve the Council on Aging recommendations for the allocation of Older Americans Act funds. Mr. Jim DuBose seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. VIII. CAC CASE MANAGEMENT REPORT Ms. Barbara Kelly told the board that the CAC Case Management program, in partnership with the Knoxville Community Development Corporation (KCDC), has been in operation for five years. She referred the board to a handout describing outcomes of the program. When the Case management program began in 2008, CAC committed to a goal of having no evictions to the streets. To date, no participants in the program have been evicted to the streets. There were seven (7) case managers at the beginning of the program. In the current period, there are 4 case managers. As funds become more difficult to obtain, and as people are becoming stabilized in the KCDC facilities, we are able to deal with larger case loads and a reduced number of staff. In the 42 month period, 118 residents facing eviction were placed in alternative housing. There are people who, because of their circumstances and issues, cannot be successful residents of public housing. These individuals need to be helped to find a place to live, and there are not many options for them. We were not able to provide follow-up services for them. Using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), we are analyzing what happened to those 118 people. So far, we have found 22 of those individuals that are now receiving homeless services; 27 refused services and their whereabouts are undetermined. Twenty (20) of these persons were previous homeless. It is not surprising to find that if formerly homeless persons are placed in housing without furniture, with untreated mental, physical and social issues, they will not be successful residents of public housing. Case managers provide a very important bridge for these families and individuals. Residents evicted from KCDC cannot receive a Section 8 housing voucher or admittance to other subsidized housing in the future. Only those with a chance of success should be placed in public housing. Ms. Kelly thanked Misty Goodwin and the staff of Homeward Bound for their excellent work. Ms. Ashley Ogle added that the case management program falls into the Housing First approach, providing wrap-around supports, which is what is needed for these individuals to be successful. Ms. Ogle thanked CAC for its partnership and good 5
work at KCDC facilities. Ms. Zoe Evans asked what is considered to be alternative housing. Ms. Kelly responded that it is housing that we would rather not use, but may be the only alternative for individuals with certain issues. Ms. Ogle added that KCDC is not the only organization that provides subsidized housing. Some individuals need nursing home care; others may be able to live with relatives; some relocate. X. PROGRAM UPDATES Ms. Barbara Kelly recommended that the full board approve the Title VI compliance update. This refers to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each year, CAC Knox County Transit prepares a plan stating how Title VI requirements will be implemented in relation to all aspects of the transportation program. The CAC Administrative Committee has reviewed the plan update and a full copy of the plan is available on request. Mr. Charles Wright made a motion to approve the CAC Knox County Transit annual plan for Title VI compliance. Judge John Rosson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Anagnost asked the board to consider a request to the United Way of Monroe County for $1,000 to support East Tennessee 2-1-1. This request came up after the Administrative Committee meeting in March. Rev. John Gill made a motion to approve the 2-1-1 request. Ms. Judy Poulson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Anagnost referred the board to the information about the Summer Child Nutrition Program which was included in the board packet. There will be 78 sites in Knoxville and Knox County. A list is provided in the packet. Ms. Barbara Kelly reported that the program will add three (3) mobile sites this year and will operate for three (3) additional days. Even so, only approximately 15% of the children currently receiving free and reduced priced school meals will be served. The budget is $475,000 for staff, food, milk and delivery charges. Mr. Buz Johnson made a motion to approve the application for the Summer Child Nutrition Program. Mr. Jim DuBose seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Anagnost reported that a letters have been sent to Congressman Duncan, Senator Alexander, and Senator Corker on behalf of the CAC board explaining the detrimental impact of the recent budget cuts on low-income families, individuals, and the community. The board members were given copies of the letters. Ms. Susan Long invited the board to the Duncan Award for Senior Advocacy Reception on April 2, 2013, at the O Connor Center. Luddell Coffey and Deborah Herzel are this year s honorees. She also invited the board to PAWS Among the Blooms on May 17, 2013 at Stanley s Greenhouse. She reminded the board that the latest edition of the Senior Directory is now available. It is also available online at www.knoxseniors.org/directory. She also reminded the 6
members that Mobile Meals has a waiting list and encouraged board members to come up with ideas and strategies to reduce the number of people on the waiting list. Ms. Anagnost told the board that the Report of Investments dated 4/25/2013 includes an additional $16,120.43 which has been added to the O Connor Fundraising proceeds. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectively submitted, Jim DuBose CAC Board Secretary 7